Expansion-lift.



M. LSBNDBRLING.

EXPANSION LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 30. 1911.

Patented De@.2,1913h.

3 SHEBTSASHEBT 1.

4 f W /fw w L n# T L if; LLLUHHIHIHHH IIN "I IHM M. L. SENDERLING.

EXPANSION LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED DB0. so. 1911.

1,080,875, Patented Deo. 2.1913.

L s SHEETS-SHEET 2. .ZZ 1:;- N, 3f -355- M. L. SENDERLING.

EXPANSION LIFT. APPLICATION FILB 13110.30, 11111.

1,080,375. Patented 1160.211913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES MARTIN L. SENDI'EIRLING, OFJERSEY CITY, NEWJERSEY.

EXPANSION-LIFT.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. SENDER- LING, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of J'ersey City, in the county of Hudson andState of New Jersey, have invented a newr and Improved Expansion- Lift,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact' description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has, in vieware: to provide a lifting mechanism having a pivoted base to permit alateral swing of'said mechanisin thereon; to provide a thrust member forsaid mechanism, pivotally mounted thereon to rock in' a planeperpendicular to Q the plane of rotation of lsaid base; and to provideaV lifting mechanism having terminal thrust' members and anvintermediate flexible expansion member to separate said thrust members,and pivotally connected with said thrust .members `to permit thedisposition thereof in angularlywlisposed planes.

One embodiment ofthe present invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a lift constructedand arranged in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

*Fig 3 'is' a sectional elevation of"'a'bottom fragment of the mechanismshown in Fig. 1, the link members thereof being shown in expandedarrangement, andl the base and operating screw being broken andcontracted; Fig. et is a horizontal section of the toggle levers takenon the staggered line L1---11 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 5*?) in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken onthe line 6--6 in Fig.

3; Fig. 7 is a detail view of an upper frag` mentof the expansionmember, showing in dotted lines the angular disposition of the thrustplatforms; Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 9;Fig. 9 is a view of an upper or outer end fragment of a lift constructedin accordance witlia modified form of the i present invention; Fig. 10is a` modified form of the construe couples, shown in longitudinalsection.

As seen in the accompanying drawings, the lift is provided with a baseplate 11.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 30, 1911.vSerial No. 668,697.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

`At both ends of the ards 12, to form bearings forthe ends of aScrew-threaded shaft 13. The shaft 13 has ends reduced to form journalsto rest in the bearings on the standards 12 and below bearing caps 14.The reduced ends 19 of the standards 12 and the caps 14: .forni bearingsfor the bracket ends 15 of a pivot bai' 1G, to permit said bar andstructure supported thereby to swing independently of the shaft 13. Thebar 1G is T-shapcd in cross section, having a centrally-disposed pendentflange 1T. The flat top of the har lfiforms a runway for the base plate20 which is directly connected with the pivot blocks 18, as seen best inFig. L1 of the drawings.

-The base plate 20 is provided with downwardly-extending flanges 21,which 4flanges infold the bar-1G. The base plate 20 is separable fromthe pivot blocks 18, so that said blocks may be placed in position fromabove, so that grooves formed vertically therein may register with guideflanges 22 with which the nuts 23 are furnished. The nuts 23 abovereferred to are provided with threads to register with the threads ofthe screw shaft 13. lhethreads of said shaft, at opposite ends thereof,are relatively reversed; that ris to say, the threads have a rightandleft-handed pitch, meeting at the centerof the shaft midway between thestandards 12. The nuts 23 are disposed equi-distant from the middle ofthe shaft, and whenso disposed, receive the blocks 18, to be thereafterheld thereby from rotation.

The shaft 13 is rotated by any suitable means, that shown in thedrawings consisting of the crank handle 24. (See Fig. 3 of thedrawings). By rotating the shaft in one direction, the nuts 23 and pivotblocks connected therewith will move toward the center, 'and whenrotating in the reverse direction, said nuts and pivot blocks will movefiom said center.` The pivot blocks 18 are both provided with trunnionsThe truiiiiions 25 form bearings for the ends of levers 2G, 27 and 28and an auxiliary lever 29. The auxiliary lever 29 is paired with thecentral lever 28 in the first or bottom couple of the expansiblestructure or lazytongs, and 4is not repeated in the superposed couples.

base plate 11 are stand-v -ln Fig. 2 -of the drawings is shown therelative disposition of the levers 26, 27 and 28 and auxiliary lever 29.In Fig. 4 of the drawings is shown the relative arrange- 'mentof'levers-30, 31 and 32. By the employment of the auxiliary lever 29,the structure is materially reinforced at the point where the initialforce is applied to open the couples forming the lazy-tongs hereinafterdescribed. Said auxiliary lever-is a straight 'bar having perforationsformed therein to form bearings upon one of the trunnions as well as theconnecting pins 33, 34 and 35. The main portion of the lever 28, asshown`in Fig. 2, is disposed centrally between the' levers 26 and 27,and in a plane coincident with `the centeref the shaft 13. Toaccommodate this' disposition of the lever y 28, it is provided withan'elongated hub 36,

which-is perforated to receive the`pin 33, to be therebyoperativelyconnected with the auxiliary lever 29. .The hub. 36 isprovidedwith a relatively short arm 37, the vopposite end whereof isperforated to receive the trunnion 25 on the blockv 18. The length ofthe hub 36 is regulated to accommodate the separation or disposition ofthe trunnions 25. The lever 28 is suitably provided withA a hub 38 toreceive on the `median plane of the lazy-tongs thepin 34, and at the endof the'lever' the pin 35. Thehub 38 through which the pin, 34 passes,forms a spacing member for the levers26 and 27. The levers 26 and 27'are provided with perforated hubs I 39- and 40, respectively,-throughwhich a pivot pin 41 extends. The hubs 39 and 40 are provided with shortarms 42, the ends whereof are perforated to receive the trun'- nions 25of the block l18 adjacent thereto. The levers 26 and 27, at their upperor outer ends, are perforated to receive a pivot pin 43'. The pivot pin43 extends through' perforationsin a hub 44 on the lever 32 of .the

first of the -superposed couples of the lazytongs. The hub 38,'at theend vof the .lever 28, is perforated to receive the pin 35.` The pin 35passes through, and forms the pivot for, the auxiliary lever 29 .and thelevers 30 and 31 of the first of the superposed couples of thelazy-tongs. Each of thesucceeding couples going to make up' thelazy-tongs shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings consists ofv a lever 32having a hub 44 at the lower end, a hub 45 at the-upper end, and anintermediate hub 46 centrally located between the hubs 44 and 45. Thehubs are connected by the' levers 30 and 31 inthe manner illustrated,and progressively; that is to say,

each pair of levers 30 and 31.`is connected i with a hub 45 on a levery32,-by means of the pins 62 of the'couplev next below said pair oflevers, and is connected with-the hub 46 of the lever 32 correspondingin the couple with said levers 39e-nd 31, and with'the hub 44 of the:lever 32gnext `above said couple.

Each of the levers 32 is connected inthe same vprogressive manner with,first, the

upper ends of the levers 30 and 31 of the adjacent lower couple, Withthe levers 30I and 31 of the same couple at the median o rtion-thereof,and with the levers 3() and 31 of the next succeeding upper couple, itbeing understood that each couple consists of the paired outside levers'30, 31 and the corresponding inside lever 32, the same being connectedat their respective centers by the pivot pin. 47. As many of the couplesabove described as is deemed necessary are in this manner united. At theupper end of the' couple pile, a platform or head 48 is connected bymeans of outside levers 49. and an inside .lever 50 to the upper coupleof thel above-described pile, by means of pivot pins 51, which extendthrough pivot lugs 52ex-v tended from the under side of and atthe '-endof the platform or head 48.

Itwill be noted by reference to Figs. 1y

and l7 of the drawings that the levers 49 agnd the lever 50 are notcentrally connected.

By this arrangement, the platform is permitted to rock or be inclinedlrelative to the vertical center of the'lazy-tongs, as shown by thedotted lines in Fig. 7 ofthedrawings.

Aln t'he modified form of the invention, as

shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the platform 48 is tongs, arid byv employing.the bolt 54,-fthe head 53' maylswing--ltransverse said couples,

forming thereby Y. head 53 with thelifz'y-tongsfto' accommodate indisposition or 'tilt theebjec being moved bythe herein-described lifFrom thefforegoing, itwvill. beunders't'ood that as the shaft'13 'isrotated to. c'ause the universal joint for the nuts to lmove toward thecenter of said shaft, the levers 26 and 27. on the one side of the pin34 areuplifted, using said pin as a fulcrum,'and 'lifting the weightcarried at the outer end'of said levers by the pin 43. Correspondingly,the levers 28 :and 29, operating through the pin 35 at the outersentedby the levers v30 and 31 `of the next succeeding superposed coupleof the lazytongs. Correspondinglyl and cOrdinately, the various pairedlevers 30'and 31 and the various single levers 32 operate to pivot on-thepins 47, to open upward, permitting lend thereof, lift the'l weightas y repreand parts connecte permitted to yswing to' accommodatesthepofsition of the object being operated upon or lifted.

therewith "are spread, withl the result that the various couples arelaterally expanded to draw; ltheing ltogether vertically, operating toproduce the' result of lowering said platform or head and the loadcarried thereby. i

In the :normal position of the couples constituting the present lift,they are vertically nested, as seen in Fig. 1 o'f thedrawings. In thisposition, the pivot blocks 18 are separated to the limit of theiroutward stroke, 'and if not otherwise protected, the threads of theshaft` 13 would be exposed for accumulation oft dust or grit, whichsubsequently would grind and cut said threads of the shaft 13 and thoseof the nuts 23. It is to avoid this that I have provided the coveringtubeGO. The tube G0 may be constructed of any suitable material, and issecured to the pivot blocks 18.

j To avoid the collapsingof the tube `60 to clog the threads o f theshaft 13, I provide a spiral spring 61, as seen best in Fig. l of thedrawings where the tube is partly cut away to Iexpose the same. The`spring 61 is preferably constructed with as few as practicalconvolutions or turns, in order that the same may not form anobstruction for the juxtaposition of the pivot blocks 18 when moved tothe center of the shaft 13, as seen in Fig. 3of the drawings. In theposition shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the tube60 is compressed by the blocks 18 and the nuts 23 contained therein. i

'In the modied form of the construction shown in Fig. 10, provision ismade for varying the separation between the levers 30 and 31 ,with`greater facility than would be permitted by the employment of the hubs44 and 45 permanently mounted upon the lever 32. I n the form lof theconstruction shown in Fig. 10, the lever 63 isnot provided with ahub'such as 45, but is perforated to pass a bolt 64. The bolt'64 isprovided with nuts 65, 'the fianges of which bear against the ends ofthimbles 66 and the sides of the levers 30 and 31, to compress the sametoward the lever 63. The intervening space between the sides of each ofthe levers 63 and the connected levers 30 and 31, is regulated by thelength of the sleeves 67.

It is obvious that when the above-de-l scribed construction is employed,the trans- By reversin the shaft 13, the nuts 23 verse dimension of thelazy-tongs may be infinitely varied.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. An expansion lift, comprising a screwthreaded shaft, a pair of nutsspaced apart on said shaft and in screw-threaded engagement therewith, apairof upwardlyand inwardly-extending links carried by each of saidnuts, one on each transversely opposite side thereof, and a boltconnecting the outside link `fastened to one nut with the outside linkfastened tothe vother nut, at a point substantially intermediate thelength of said links, the upper end of one of the pair of links having apair of links pivoted thereto, thefreel end of the other pair of linkshaving a single link pivoted thereto and positioned between saidlast-mentioned pair of links.

2. In an expansion lift, a toggle joint, comprising two parallel links,a single link pivotally connected to the ends of said firstmentionedlinks and positioned in a plane extending between the same, and a secondpair of links pivoted on opposite sides of the free end of said singlelink.

3. An expansion lift, comprising a screwthreaded shaft, means supportingsaid shaft at opposite ends thereof, a track supported by said means,adjacent its opposite ends, a nut in threaded engagement with saidshaft, a housing carrying said nut, means permitting. a vertica movementof said housing 'relative `to said nut, and a slidin connection' betweensaidhousing and said track.

4. In an expansion lift, a screw-threaded shaft, a toggle joint carriedby said shaft, 105 so that the rotation of the same will actuate saidtoggle joint, a supporting platform carried by said toggle, and aconnection between said toggle and said platform, permitting saidplatform to assume an angular posit-ion 110 with reference to the lineof movement of said toggle.

5. In combination with a, threaded shaft, nuts ycarried'by said shaft, atoggle carried bysaid nuts, a housing for said nuts, and a 115 tracksupporting said housing, said track rotatably mounted relative to saidshaft.

6. In combination with a toggle, a supporting platform, and a linkconnection between said toggle and said platform, per- 120 mitting saidplatform t0 swing in two directions at right angles to each other.

7. In combination with a shaft having a. set of right-hand and a set ofleft-hand threads thereon, a nut in engagement with 12b each of saidsets of threads, a covering inclosing said shaft between said nuts, andmeans `maintaining said covering spaced from said shaft.

8. In an expansion lift, a toggle` having 130 three links spaced' aparttransversely, two In testimony whereof I have signed my of said linksbeing connected. name to 'this specification in the presence of l -9. Incombnaton,a screw-threaded shaft, two Subscribing witnesses.

I nuts mounted on said shaftr a toggle oon- MARTJEN L. SENDERLING. 5nected with and actuatedby said nuts, and Witnesses:

a support 01' said nuts adapted to take the W. S. ORTON, Weight of saidtoggle 0E said shaft. JOHN l). DAVIS/.A

